Sign



:Oct. 16, 1934.

c. B. DRAKE 7 1,977,575

SIGN

Filed April 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Char/ea B Ora/ 8,

C. B. DRAKE Oct. 16, 1934.

SIGN

2 Sheets-Sheet Char/es 8 FiledrApril 19, 1953 Drake.

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 SIGN Charles B. Drake, Norfolk, Va., assignor to Neon- Globe Co.,Inc., Norfolk, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application April 19, 1933, Serial No. 666,910

10 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in signs and more particularly to what might be termed a neon globe sign which while primarily intended for use on gasoline pumps or the like might equally as well be used in various other connections or for other purposes and may bear such advertising matter as is desired.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a sign of the character described in which spaced faces are provided and illuminated by a single neon tube, each of the faces being formed of glass 'or other similar material such as celluloid or the like with a truly transparent portion with the remaining portion translucent, theneon tube being positioned between the plates and in position to be readily seen through the truly transparent portions thereof.

Another object consists in providing a reflector which is positioned within the circle or confines of the neon tube, the reflector being formed and adapted to provide a space to receive a transformer positioned between the two faces forming a part of the sign, the transformer being supported upon a suitable bracket of a construction adapted to be received between the ends of the neon tube.

A further object resides in forming the faces of the sign so that at their outer edges they will be closer together than at their central portion, the

neon tube being positioned between the plates adjacent their outer edges whereas the transformer will be positioned adjacent the central portions thereof where the space is of greatest width.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a face view.

Fig. 2 is an edge view.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section with parts shown in elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section with parts shown in elevation.

In the drawings 1 indicates a base adapted to be secured to a suitable support such as a gasoline pump and 2 indicates a band secured to the base and provided interiorly, adjacent each edge,

with a circumferentially extending groove 3 to receive a spring ring 4, as shown more particu-- larly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to retain in place the plates 5 which are formed of glass, celluloid, or similar material through which light rays may be reflected. As shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings the plates 5 are concaveconvex for a purpose which will be later apparent.

' Each of the plates 5, with the exception of a portion 6 are translucent, the portion 6 being truly transparent for a purpose to be later described. While, in the drawings, I have illustrated the faces as well as the portion 6 or circular formation it will be understood that various other shapes or configurations might be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have illustrated the translucent portion or portions of the plates 5 as including areas 7, 8, 9 and 10 of varying colors but it will be understood that this is merely for illustrative purposes and I am not limited to any such arrangement, myprimary object being to provide a truly transparent portion in a plate or plates otherwise translucent. When desired suitable advertising matter may be placed on the translucent portions of the plates.

1 At 11 I have shown a neon tube having the end portions 12 which are connected in the usual manner to a transformer indicated generally at 13 and supported by the bracket 14 having the angular extension 15 secured to the band 2 by means of the screw or bolt 16 or other suitable fastening.

Positioned within the neon tube 11 is a reflector 17 having the cut-out portion 18, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to receive the transformer 13 and its supporting bracket 14, the cut-out portion being of a suiiicient size so that the edges thereof do not contact with the ends of the neon tube. At the same time the ends 12 of the neon tube are spaced a sufiicient distance apart that they do not contact with the bracket 14. The reflector 1'7 is secured to the neon tube 11 by the wires 19 which pass through openings 20 formed in the reflector and the ends of the wires in turn are secured to the screws 21 or other projections carried by the band 2. It will thus be seen that the wires 19 not only act to secure the reflector within the confines of the tube but also act to secure the reflector and tube to the band 2 whereby they are supported with the tube spaced from the inner surface of the band as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

From the above detailed description it is thought that the construction will be clearly understood and it will be noted that the neon tube 11 is positioned in alignment with the truly transparent portions 6 of the plates 5 so that it may be readily seen therethrough with the light rays reflected through and illuminating the translucent portions of the plates. By having the plates concavo-convex in shape the truly transparent portions 6 are relatively close to the neon tube whereas the central portions of the plates are spaced a suflicient distance apart to provide room for the transformer 13. The two plates 5 are spaced the right distance apart to secure maximum illumination over the faces from the neon tube which is located centrally between the plates. The neon tube is fully visible through the clearly transparent portions which would not be true if the plates were spaced a further distance apart. Both plates or faces are illuminated by the one neon tube. If the transformer was located away from the center of the plates and therefore closer thereto a shadow would be cast on or over the plates or faces and the light rays from the tube would be obstructed to prevent uniform illumination over the surfaces. The reflector being positioned within the confines of the tube prevents reflection from the back of one plate to the other and also intensifies the illumination from the tube onto the plates. Another purpose of the reflector is to prevent visibility of the interior of the globe or sign through the transparent portion of the faces or plates during daylight when the electric current is turned off and the tube is not in operation.

The bracket 14 is so formed that it may be positioned, as previously stated, between the ends 12 of the tube 11 and it will thus be seen that the transformer is mounted in the minimum amount of space. 7

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A sign of the character described including a band, spaced plates carried by the band, an illuminating element positioned between the plates, a reflector positioned relative to the illuminating element, and means for connecting the reflector to the illuminating element and the reflector and illuminating element to the band.

2. A sign of the character described including a band, spaced plates carried by the band, a circular illuminating tube positioned between the plates, a reflector positioned between the plates and within the confines of the illuminating tube, and means for connecting the reflector to the tube and the reflector and tube to the band. 3. A sign of the character described including a band, spaced plates carried by the band, a circular illuminating tube positioned between the plates, a reflector positioned between the plates and within the confines of the illuminating tube, said reflector having a cut-out portion, means for connecting the reflector to the tube and the reflector and tube to the band, and a transformer positioned within the cut-out portion of the reflector and between. the plates.

4. A sign of the character described including a band, spaced plates carried by the band, an illuminating tube positioned between the plates, said tube being circular in shape and provided with spaced end portions, a reflector positioned between the plates and within the confines of the tube, said reflector having a cutout portion, a bracket secured to the band and positioned between the end portions of the illuminating tube,

and a transformer carried by the bracket and in relatively close relation and then convexed out- .luminated. and transmit light, the illuminating positioned within the cut-out portion of the reflector.

5. A sign of the character described including opposed outwardly convexed translucent plates spaced to provide a housing, each of the plates having a transparent portion extending therearound adjacent the outer edge thereof, and an illuminating tube. extending around the interior of the housing in relatively close proximity to the inner faces of the plates and in alignment with the transparent portions thereof.

6. A sign of the character described including opposed outwardly convexed translucent plates spaced to provide a housing, each of the plates having a transparent portion extending therearound adjacent the outer edge thereof, an illuminating tube extending around the interior of the housing in relatively close proximity to the inner faces of the plates and in alignment with the transparent portions thereof to be viewed therethrough, and a reflector positioned within the confines of the illuminating tube to direct light rays to opposite sides thereof to illuminate the opposed plates.

'7. A sign of the character described including opposed translucent platesspaced to provide a housing, each of the plates having a transparent portion extending therearound adjacent the outer edges thereof, the outer edges of the plates being in relatively close relation and then convexed outwardly into relatively wide spaced relation, and an illuminating tube extending around the interior of the housing. and positioned between the plates at the relatively close portions thereof and in'alignment with the transparent'portions of the plates, said illuminating tube being visible through the transparent portions of the plates and reflecting light rays over the entire surfaces of the plates.

8. A sign of the character described including opposed translucent plates spaced to provide a housing, each of the plates having a transparent portion extending therearound adjacent the outer edges thereof, the outer edges of the plates being wardly into relatively. Wide spaced relation, an illuminating tube extending around the interior of the housing and positioned between the plates at the relatively close portions thereof and in alignment with the transparent portions of the plates, said illuminating tube being visible through the transparent portions of the plates, and a reflector positioned within the confines of the illuminating tube to reflect light rays to opposite sides thereof and to illuminate the entire surface of the plates.

9. A sign of the character described comprising a casing formed in part of a front adapted to be illuminated from within said casing, illuminating means mounted in the casing, a portion of the front being of a character to be illuminated and transmit light while obscuring external view of parts within the casing, the illuminating means including anilluminating tube disposed within the casing in spaced relationship to the front near the edge portion of the front and extending around the casing, said first mentioned portion of the front having distinctive approximately concentrically arranged areas adapted to be iltube being positioned to shed its light rays through the space between the tube and the front and over all of said areas of the front including the light transmitting areas thereof.

10. A sign of the character described comprising, said first mentioned portion of the front having distinctive approximately concentrically arranged areas adaped to be illuminated and transmit light, the illuminating tube being positioned to shed its light rays through the space between the tube and the front and over all of said areas of the front including the light transmitting areas thereof.

CHARLES B. DRAKE. 

